Refrigeration and cooling device for shrimp boats

ABSTRACT

A refrigeration system for maintaining high humidity within a zone being cooled and including an enclosure which confines components of the refrigeration system, the enclosure having an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the zone being cooled. Compressor means are provided having a supply of refrigerant along with means for receiving and delivering said supply of refrigerant into said system at an increased pressure. Evaporator means are confined within said enclosure and disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and communicating with said zone being cooled, with blower means being disposed adjacent the evaporator for circulating air through said zone being cooled. Receptacle means are disposed adjacent the evaporator for receiving and retaining condensate from said evaporator and venturi means are disposed within the flow of air from said evaporator, with the venturi having an inlet nozzle and an outlet nozzle and a throat, with a conduit communicating between said receptacle and said throat for drawing condensate from said receptacle and discharging said condensate into the air flow through said outlet nozzle at a point adjacent said outlet port.

United States Patent Anderson 5] July 25, 1972 [54] REFRIGERATION AND COOLING Primary Examiner-William J. Wye DEVICE FOR SHRIMP BOATS A n y- M- g n [72] Inventor: Singles Merton Anderson, Mankato, [57] ABSTRACT 1c A refri eration s stem for maintainin ihi h humidit within a [73] Asslgnee: Cab Corp" Mankato' zone b ing coole d and including an 6%1121551116 whicli confines Mlch' components of the refrigeration system, the enclosure having [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the zone bein cooled. Com ressor means are rovided havin a su l [21] Appl' 89749 of re frigerant along with means for :eceiving and gelive ii ng said supply of refrigerant into said system at an increased pres- [52] U.S.Cl ..62/274, 62/373, 62/64, Sure. Evaporator means are confined within said enclosure 2/ 2/429 and disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and commu- [51 Int. Cl ..F25d 23/06 nioating with said zone being cooled, with blower means being of Search 429, 91, disposed adjacent the evaporator for circulating air through said zone being cooled. Receptacle means are disposed ad- [561 References Cited jacent the evaporator for receiving and retaining condensate from said evaporator and venturi means are disposed within UNITED STATES PATENTS the flow of air from said evaporator, with the venturi having an 2,167,878 8/1939 Crawford ...62/ 150 inlet nozzle and an outlet nozzle and a throat, with a conduit 2,323,5 1 1943 Baker ...62/274 communicating between said receptacle and said throat for 2,549,5 5 T drawing condensate from said receptacie and discharging said 2,654,232 10/ 1953 6313211 condensate into the air flow through said outlet nozzle at a 2,982,109 5/1961 Pieretic. ..62/64 point adjacent said outlet pm 3,412,571 11/1968 Bolynn ..62/274 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Live S /71pm Ice Patented July 25, 1972 /2 FIG. 2,

INVENTOR Char/es Medan Anderson Ice Layer ATTORNEY REFRIGERATION AND COOLING DEVICE FOR SHRIMP BOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is particularly adapted to maintaining high humidity within zones being cooled by mechanical refrigeration systems. The system is particularly adaptable for use on self-propelled water craft, such as shrimp boats or the like wherein the individual shrimp bodies must be kept covered with water, and with the water being maintained at depressed temperature levels.

The present invention has unique application in the fishing industry, particularly in shrimp boats or the like, wherein the product must be kept at a depressed temperature level, as well as being kept moist so as to prevent spoilage due to dehydration or heat. At the present time, mechanical refrigeration systems are utilized to supplement the supply of ice which is normally maintained to place on top of the catch, however the mechanical refrigeration systems employed suffer from the disadvantage of extracting water from the zones where the catch is retained, thus permitting spoilage to occur primarily due to drying of the surface of the individual shrimp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigeration system for maintaining high relative humidity within a zone being cooled, the refrigeration system being provided with means for returning moisture to the cooled zone which is extracted during the refrigeration cycle.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigeration system for shrimp boats and the like, wherein means are provided for mechanically refrigerating the zones wherein the individual shrimp are retained, and wherein means are provided for returning any condensate extracted from the cooled zone back into the cooled zone.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigeration system which utilizes a hydraulic motor means for driving a refrigeration compressor and a pair of blowers, the arrangement being such that the compressor and the two blower motors are disposed along a common output shaft from the hydraulic motor.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a refrigeration system utilized for shrimp boat use or the like, and illustrating the enclosure which confines the components of the system, and illustrating the arrangement with one end, one side, and the top wall removed; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the details of the evaporator chamber, and its disposition to a shrimp retaining receptacle disposed in the hold of a shrimp boat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferred modification of the present invention, and with particular attention to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the refrigeration system generally designated includes an enclosure means having a pair of side walls such as the wall 11, a pair of end walls such as the end wall 12, and a bottom wall such as the bottom 13. The top wall, as well as one end wall and one side wall are shown removed from the system for purposes of clarity. A divider panel is shown at 14, this panel separating the evaporator chamber from the condensor chamber 16. A suitable source of rotational energy, such as a hydraulic motor or the like is utilized to provide rotational energy to drive shaft 20, shaft being coupled securely to compressor 21 and delivering power thereto, along with evaporator blower 22 and condensor blower 23. Blowers 22 and 23 are each provided with suitable fan elements such as the elements 24 and 25 respectively. With regard to the evaporator chamber 15, a pair of evaporator coils'27 and 28 are provided within the structure and are in communication with the zone being cooled, such as through the inlet ports 29 and 30. In order to enhance the air flow, deflectors 31 and 32 are provided for controlling the flow of air within the evaporator chamber 15.

With attention now being directed to FIG. 2 of the drawing, a venturi nozzle is shown generally at 3.5, this venturi having an inlet nozzle as at 36, an outlet nozzle as at 37, and a throat as at 38. Conduit means 39 is in communication with the throat area 38, and is utilized to draw condensate from the evaporator chamber and deliver the condensate to the zone being cooled. As is apparent in FIG. 2, deflectors 31 and 32 along with end wall 12 and divider wall ll4 operate to define a condensate receptacle for receiving and. retaining condensate from the evaporator coil. As the moist air moves through the inlet ports 29 and 30, and through the evaporator coils 27 and 28, a portion of the moisture is condensed and is caused to ultimately drop into the receptacle area defined by deflectors 31 and 32, and end wall 12 and divider 14, such as the receptacle area shown at 40. Thus, the conduit 39 aspirates condensate from receptacle area 40, and discharges: this condensate from the throat area 38 of venturi 35 outwardly through outlet nozzle 37, within the path of the recirculated air. Thus, the condensate which is removed from the cooled zone is returned to the shrimp retaining areas of the hold, such as is shown generally at 41. If desired, ice may be utilized to cover the surface of the individual shrimp in order to maintain the products in moist condition.

With specific attention again being directed to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the single power shaft extends through the entire length of the structure, and is coupled directly to compressor 21, blower 24, and blower 25. This permits a low profile system to be employed and reduces the space requirement. Asis apparent from the drawing, condensor chamber 16 is provided with a pair of condensor coils 43 and 44, along with blower 23 for circulating air through the coils 43 and 44. This enhances the operation of the refrigeration system, particularly during operations under warm environmental conditions.

In order to deliver power to the shaft 120, drive pulley means are provided as at 45, the drive pulley being fast on shaft 20, and being propelled from any source of rotary power. If desired, an individual hydraulic motor may be mounted within the system for delivering rotational energy to the shaft 20.

It will be appreciated that the structure of the present invention may be utilized for a variety of operations, including shrimp boats, as well as other fishing craft. The systemhas application wherever refrigerated zones requiring high humidity are encountered.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigeration system for maintaining high relative humidity within a zone being cooled,

a. compressor means having means for receiving and delivering a supply of refrigerant into said system at an increased pressure;

b. enclosure means confining components of said refrigeration system and having an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with said zone being cooled;

c. evaporating means confined within said enclosure and disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and communicating with said zone being cooled;

d. receptacle means adjacent said evaporator means for receiving and retaining condensate from said evaporator and;

e. blower means disposed adjacent said evaporator and between said inlet port and outlet port for directing and circulating the flow of air at high velocity to and through said zone being cooled; and

f. venturi means disposed within said flow of air having an inlet nozzle, an outlet nozzle, and a throat, and conduit means communicating between said condensate receptacle and said throat for aspirating said condensate from said receptacle and discharging said condensate into said flow of air through said outlet nozzle at a point immediately adjacent said outlet port.

2. The refrigeration system as defined in claim 1 wherein said zone being cooled contains perishable food products.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 being particularly characterized in that said perishable food product is live seafood.

4. In a refrigeration system for maintaining high relative humidity within a zone being cooled and comprising:

a. main power shaft means having means for coupling to a source of rotational energy;

b. first blower means having a fan coupled fast to said shaft and being disposed in operative relationship to an evaporator coil;

. second blower means having a fan coupled fast to said shaft and being disposed in operative relationship to a condensor coil;

. compressor means coupled fast to said shaft and disposed in operative relationship to said evaporator coil; and

. venturi means disposed within said system and being cou- 

1. In a refrigeration system for maintaining high relative humidity within a zone being cooled, a. compressor means having means for receiving and delivering a supply of refrigerant into said system at an increased pressure; b. enclosure means confining components of said refrigeration system and having an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with said zone being cooled; c. evaporating means confined within said enclosure and disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and communicating with said zone being cooled; d. receptacle means adjacent said evaporator means for receiving and retaining condensate from said evaporator and; e. blower means disposed adjacent said evaporator and between said inlet port and outlet port for directing and circulating the flow of air at high velocity to and through said zone being cooled; and f. venturi means disposed within said flow of air having an inlet nozzle, an outlet nozzle, and a throat, and conduit means communicating between said condensate receptacle and said throat for aspirating said condensate from said receptacle and discharging said condensate into said flow of air through said outlet nozzle at a point immediately adjacent said outlet port.
 2. The refrigeration system as defined in claim 1 wherein said zone being cooled contains perishable food products.
 3. The system as defined in claim 2 being particularly characterized in that said perishable food product is live seafood.
 4. In a refrigeration system for maintaining high relative humidity within a zone being cooled and comprising: a. main power shaft means having means for coupling to a source of rotational energy; b. first blower means having a fan coupled fast to said shaft and being disposed in operative relationship to an evaporator coil; c. second blower means having a fan coupled fast to said shaft and being disposed in operative relationship to a condensor coil; d. compressor means coupled fast to said shaft and disposed in operative relationship to said evaporator coil; and e. venturi means disposed within said system and being coupled to said first blower means for aspirating condensate from said evaporator coils into the flow of air from said first blower means for discharge into said air flow at a point immediately adjacent said outlet port. 